Battery



` N0v.'19, 1946. l A KELLER 2,411,272

BATTERY Filed Aug. 21, 1943 lNvENTR ATTRNEYS Patented Nov. 19, 1946 BATTERY 'Frederick A. Keller, East Paterson, N. J., assignor to Bright Star Battery Company, Clifton, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 2l, 1943, Serial No. 499,477

1 claim. (cl. 13o-133) ThIs invention relates to lbatteries and especially to flashlight batteries. An object of this invention is an improved mre l ilashlight battery construction.

A battery constructed according to the present invention comprises a cup ofzinc or other suitablemetal containing a cartridge having a centrally arranged electrode of carbon or other suitable material. \A shell of ethyl cellulose or other suitable plastic material closed at one end fits over the closed end of the cupI and a cover I1 of plastic material the periphery of which rests on the rim ofthe cup III and is sealed to the edge oi plastic material engages the rim of the -cup and is Sealed to theV edge of the shell. A metal cap is sealed in the cover with a portion 'of the cap exposed and with the cap receiving the end of the central electrode. 'I'he capA is embedded in the cover such that no Vportion of it is exposed to contact by electrolyte which may escape from the cartridge.

The plasticshell forms a gas-tight seal with the plastic cover and also obviates the need of the paper tube now used to insulate lthe curved surface of the cup. By reason of the cap being embedded in the plastic material, nol washers are required over the top of the cartridge as heretoof the shell I3. The shell I3 and disk Il may be composed of ethyl cellulose or other suitable plasticmaterial. The cap IB is so arranged as to receive the upper end of the carbon electrode I2 and has a portion extending beyond the outer surface of the disk. 'I'he ange of the cap is embedded in the plastic material in such manner" that with the electrode inserted no portion of the cap is exposed to attack by electrolyte escaping from the cartridge. The seal between the cover I l and the shell I3 provides a gas-tight construction. The member I5 constitutes one terminal of the battery` while the cap I6 constitutes th other terminal.

In constructing the battery above described. the cartridge and carbon electrode are assembled in the cup I0. The shell I3 -is produced by aninfore to prevent contact of escaped electrolyte with Y the cap. For this reason, the usual spacing between the top of the cartridge and the sealing member may be decreased thereby making it possible to increase the length of the cartridge and thus provide additional electrolyte. without changing the overall length of the battery. IAlso, for the same overall length of battery a shorter cup` may be used, thus conserving zinc` Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following speciiication and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a flashlight battery embodying the invention and Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

In Fig. 2, I indicates the usual zinc cup of a jection molding operation and is of uniform in'- terior diameter throughout'its entire length. The shank of the member I is projected through the closure aperture to seat the head I5b in the re'- cess, after which the shank is'swaged to form the head I5a. The assembled cup, cartridge and carbon electrode are inserted into the shell, after which the cover I'I lis arranged on theLrim of the flashlight battery in which is contained the usual cartridge II. A centrally arranged carbon electrode I2 is embedded in the cartridge in the usual manner and projects above the rim of the cup I0.

-A shell I3 of plastic material surrounds the cup Ill and is provided at one end withvan integral closure Il in which is embedded a metal member I5. A metal rivet-like member I5 extends through an aperture in the4 closure I4 and is provided with an interior head I5a and exterior head lib seated in a recess in the outer surface ofthe closure I4 ilush with .said surface. The interior head I5a engages-the zinc cup I0 while the head IIb constitutes the bottom terminal of the battery. A metal cap I6 is embedded in a disk cup I0 'with the cap I6 Vreceiving the' end of the carbon electrode. Next, the rim of the shell is sealed to the cover either by heat'and pressure or by use of` a -solvent and pressure.` The cartridge is located in the shell by engagement of the end of the carbon electrode I2 with the inner Surface of the cap I 6J I claim: A battery comprising a metallic anode cup open at its upper end and containing a. cartridge having a centrally arranged electrode, a shell of plastic material tting over the cup andopen at its upper end and closed at the lower end by an I integral end wall provided with a small aperture, said shell having the edge of its open upper end extending beyond the open upper end of the cup,

a plastic cover closing the open upper end` of said shell and having a gas-tight seal with the edge of the shell, a metallic cap sealed in said cover with a portion of said cap exposed and with the end of said electrode received in said cap, and

a rivet-like metal member consisting of a shank of small diameter filling the small aperture in I the' lower end wall of the shell, 'an inner head integral with shank and located 'within the shell in contact with said cup and an outer head exterior of said shell of substantial diametenhaving its exposed surface ush with the face of said shell.

FREDERICK A. KELLER.

outer sur- 

